Mail bag or pouch



-J. W. O. SPRINGST-UN.

(No Model.)

MAIL BAG 0R POUCH.

110., 490,172, Patented Jan. 17, 1893;

awn Mao's bio Quayle/1 o wi/fimeooez UNITED STATES PATENT Enron.

JOHN W. C. SPRINGSTUN, OF WINFIELD, KANSAS.

MAIL BAG OR POUCH.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 490,172, dated January 1'7, 1893. Application filed July 13, 1892. Serial No. 439,923. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, JOHN W. O. SPRINGSTUN, a citizen of the United States, residing at \Vinfield,in the county of Cowley and State of Kansas, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Mail Bags or Pouches; and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters of reference marked thereon, which form. a part of this specification.

My invention relates to mail bags and pouches and particularly to that class in which is employed a series of bars or plates hinged together and arranged at the mouth of the bag in such a manner as to permit the opening and closing thereof.

My invention consists in the construction, relative arrangement and operation of the several parts, but particularly in the staple employed in connection therewith.

In the drawings which form a part of this specification, Figure 1 represents in perspective View the upper portion of a mail bag or pouch with my improvement thereon, the mouth being open; Fig. 2, a top view of the same; and Fig. 3,a top View, the mouth of the bag being closed and locked.

The reference letters a a a a represent four bars or plates hinged together at their ends by hinges Z) suitably riveted thereto as shown. Two of these plates a a are provided with flanges c which overlap the adjacent plates a a when the bag is in a locked condition. To one of these plates on is secured one end of a staple d which is passed through the plate and hinge and upset to form a rigid connection. The other end of the staple Works within a slot e in the plate a, and is provided with a bend d which abuts against the outer face of plate a. when the parts are locked together, and operates to bring'plates a, a in close relation to each other. The inner ends of the plates or a are cut away as is also the hinge at this point to form a slot f, for the reception of the staple as the plates are brought together, and g is a padlock the shackle of which is passed through the projecting end of the staple as shown in Fig. 3. are cut away at c at an angle of forty-five degrees at the hinge joint, thereby allowing full and unobstructed opening of the mouth into a rectangular shape. The top of the mail bag is riveted or otherwise connected to the lower side of the plates a a (t a and when the mouth is opened ready access to the interior is had.

In closing the bag the front plates are folded against the rear plates, the staple projecting beyond the former sufficiently far to permit the insertion of the shackle of the pad lock. The opening of the bag is accomplished in the same manner, with the operation of the parts reversed.

By reason of my improvements I am enabled to construct a mail bag or pouch embodying simplicity of construction and effectiveness in operation and in which the liability of gaining access to the interior except in the proper way is reduced to the minimum.

I claim:

1. In a mail bag or pouch of the class described, the combination with a series of hinged plates secured to the mouth of the bag and having a slot formed at the intersection of the front plates, a staple having one of its ends secured to one of the rear plates and having its other free end formed with a bend, a slot in the adjacent rear plate for receiving said free end, and a padlock operating with the staple to lock the bag in'its closed condition, substantially as described.

2. In a mail bag or pouch of the'class described, the combination with a series of hinged plates secured to the mouth of the bag, flanges c on the rear plates, slot f formed at the intersection of the front plates, slot 6 in one of the rear plates, the staple secured at one end to the adjacent rear plate and having its free end upturned and working in the slot 6, and a padlock operating with the staple to lock the bag in its closed condition substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

JOHN 'W. C. SPRINGSTUN. Witnesses:

G. H. BUCKMAN, S. E. FINK.

The flanges c 

